Retrofitting Roof AC with residential Parts?
For those of us who have been around a long while, many of us will remember Professo95. At one point, I think he took the shell of dometic AC unit (because it was taller if memory serves) and then ...
Forum Discussion
dougrainer wrote:
A 15k Window unit costs about $550 from Lowes/HD. A 15k upper RVP(Coleman) costs about $625. So, for $75 and HOURS of your time and modifying the parts, you want to dismantle a Window unit and HOPE to get it to function as well as a RV designed unit??????????????????? Doug
RV UPPER may only cost $625, however you WOULD have to REPLACE with the SAME model in order to use the $200 piece of plastic INSIDE part, making that $825 plus labor..
RV A/Cs are not "available" everywhere like Home Depot or Lowes, must buy those at a RV store and unless you live near a huge RV store that carries inventory (most do not stock A/C units) you will have to wait for it to come in or order one and pay shipping plus tax.
You also do not NEED to replace with same BTU if using a Window air, since Window air units use the condensate to splash over the outside coils, allows you to use a lower BTU A/C and get better cooling. A 12K Window unit can easily replace a 13.5K unit and turn your small RV into a meat locker.
I would however question the wisdom of trying to retrofit a Window air unit into a RV roof air case unless you are well versed in recovery and loading refridgerant along with brazing lines and wiring.
Instead, find a place like a closet that you could modify to fit a Window unit..
Can you spot the window air unit in my pix?
It is under the right tail light hidden by that fake fridge access panel.. That is a 10K BTU unit in a 26Ft TT.. I have a 6.5K BTU companion unit in the front bedroom..
It is the second Fake fridge access panel from the front..
The first fake fridge access is my battery compartment which can hold up to 4 GC2 batteries but I only have one pair in there..
With both of those A/Cs I spent just under $500 and they they will freeze you out on 110F high humidity days..
They also work better since they are not up on top of a HOT, HOT, HOT roof..
Yes, I lost a small bit of "storage" but it was well worth it to me and most of that storage was hard to use or get to.
